Metallic pence



BUSH.

Iron Fence Patented Aug. 3,1858.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

W. BUSH, OF HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

METALLIC FENCE.

Specification of Letters Patent No. 21,064, dated August 3, 1858.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM BUsH, of the city of Harrisburg, in the county of Dauphin and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in the Manner of Constructing Metallic Fences for Cemeteries and Similar Purposes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings and to the letters of reference marked thereon.

In the drawings, Figure 1, is a side elevation. F ig. 2, is a vertical section. Fig. 3, shows the manner in which sections of the rail are joined together.

In the construction of my railing or fence, I use cast metal, and the panels can be of any desired pattern whether to please taste or suit convenience. The bottom of the panel A, is cast with a dove-tail (a) Fig. 2 which serves as a tenon. The top of the panel is slightly tapered so as to form a tenon. The base or bottom rail B on which the panels are set, has a dovetail groove (0) on its upper side and running its whole length. In the top rail 011 its under side is a groove ((1) running its whole length, and slightly conical so as to correspond with the top of the panel. The bottom rails are let into post C by means of a cast mortise and tenon, the mortise in the post, and the tenon on the rail. That part of the base D below the groove being cast projecting beyond the grooved portion thus forming the tenon on each end of the rail. The upper rail is castwith a head on one end with a hole in it to fit down on the top of post C and at the other end it is half lapped to another piece E, as seen in Fig. 3, is a head similar to that just described, and

when used continuously in a straight fence projects on both sides of the post C for splicing or half lapping the other rails; but when I turn a corner it is only necessary for it to be cast at right angles on the main body of the rail as seen at E in Fig. 1. The tops C of the posts C are made with or without a screw and nut, when made with a screw they pass down through the top of the rails and are screwed to the posts, or,

they may be driven down into the post and thus secured. After having thus constructed the castings of my fence I then set up the posts C and place the base or bottom B in the post, and then take the panels A and put the lower ends with the dovetail tenons into the corresponding dovetail groove and slide them along in the groove until they reach the post and proceed in like manner until the whole space between the posts is filled with the panels. I then set the other post up and put the tenon into the mortise and puton the top rail which fits down onto the top of the panels and the splice or half lap is secured by a single pin or rivet G, Fig. 1. I then put on the tops C either by screwing or driving them into the tops of the post. I thus proceed until I have formed a square, or continuous fence to any required length in a straight line, and when thus joined my fence is firm and unyielding, whether it be a square of one or more panels.

The advantages of my improvement over other fences of this class are cheapness and facility of construction, as well as rigidity and firmness when constructed. I avoid nearly all drilling and riveting since I have but one hole to drill, and one rivet to head in each panel, thus saving a very great amount of labor and expense in constructing my fence. Another great advantage is in case of a portion of the fence being broken I can easily take out the injured panel and insert another without taking it to a shop to be repaired.

Having thus described the construction and operation of my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is The construction of a base rail B with a continuous dovetail groove into which are slipped the panels A with a corresponding tenon, and the top rail with continuous groove fitting on the top of the panels as described, the whole constructed and operating as described and for the purposes set forth.

\VILLIAM BUSH. IVitnesses T. G. CLAYTON, J. C. CLAYTON. 

